Don't miss this one! Cheyenne Bottoms is a natural
geologic depression of about 60 square miles lying north of the Arkansas River in the
center of the state.

Cheyenne Bottoms is the largest marsh in
the interior of the United States and was designated a Wetland of International Importance
in 1988 by the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, one of
two sites in the state - the other being Quivira National Wildlife Refuge. The area is
considered the most important shorebird migration point in the western hemisphere.
Approximately 45 percent of the North American shorebird population stops at the Bottoms
during spring migration.

Although known primarily for birds, the area also contains raccoons, deer, beavers,
muskrats, and mink as well as a variety of reptiles. Western painted turtles, sliders,
diamondback and northern water snakes, and Graham's crayfish snakes frequent the water's
edge. In spring and fall, massasauga rattlesnakes regularly bask in the sun on the road.

You may access the wetlands via any of
three different entrances - north (K-4 highway), southeast (K-156 highway) or west
(US 281 highway). Informationkiosks are located on each
entry drive (red stars on map below). Visitors to Cheyenne Bottoms
should stop at one of these kiosks for maps,
checklists, and a driving tour booklet.

The driving tour booklet describes
thirteen points of interest along the drive through Cheyenne Bottoms, which
are accompanied by interpretive signage. By following the tour,
visitors get a better understanding of the significance of the area as well
as the complexity of managing a wetland resource with limited water. In
times of severe drought, the Bottoms may go completely dry.

A good place to get a feel for the
expanse of the landscape at Cheyenne Bottoms,
as well as the challenge of
managing the wetlands within it, is at the overlook platform
located a short
distance from the K-156 entrance.
(red arrow on map below)

Two of the water control structures are visible just a
short distance to the north, and the wetlands themselves stretch out of
sight into the distance. On a good day during migration, large flocks
of shorebirds or waterfowl may be seen from here.

Be sure to bring your binoculars and spotting scope!

At least 320 species of birds have been recorded at the Bottoms. The area is critical
habitat for several threatened and endangered species, including the whooping crane, bald
eagle, peregrine falcon, least tern, and piping plover. More than 25 species of ducks and
geese have been identified at the Bottoms and at times have numbered in excess of 600,000
birds. In mid-March thousands of sandhill cranes stop on the way to their staging area
along the Platte River in Nebraska. April brings tens of thousands of shorebirds to the
mudflats where they probe the mud for bloodworms, the larval stage of a small fly known as
the midge. During the summer, swarms of these insects are seen over the marshes. Common
shorebirds include a variety of sandpipers, plovers, phalaropes, avocets, godwits, and
dowitchers. Summer visitors often encounter huge flocks of red-winged and
yellow-headed blackbirds. Herons are also common during the summer; great blue
herons, snowy egrets, black-crowned night herons, and American bitterns search
the shallows for fish and frogs. A highlight of fall migration is the impressive
flocks of undulating, circling, white pelicans. At times, large "islands" of the
birds are seen across the marsh.

Primitive
camping is available at the roadside area on NE 40 Rd. ~1 mile west of the Area
Headquarters.

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Visitors can drive or
walk on approximately 15 miles of gravel roads within the area.

Directions:From U.S. 56, east
of Great Bend, travel 6 miles northeast on K-156 to one of the
three entrances to Cheyenne
Bottoms Wildlife Area. To use the west entrance, drive 6 miles north of Great
Bend on
U.S. 281 and 2 miles east to the area headquarters. The
north entrance is located on K-4 highway at the Red Wing intersection 6
miles east of Hoisington.

Ownership:The responsible entity for management of Cheyenne Bottoms is
the Kansas Department
of Wildlife, Parks & Tourism. Contact them at (620) 793-3066
if you have specific questions about use or management of the site.19,857 acres
The KDWPT web page for the Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area
here.
You may download the KDWPT brochure on Cheyenne Bottoms
Wildlife Areahere.Bird, mammal and reptile/amphibian checklists for Cheyenne
Bottoms may be found
here.

The Nature Conservancy owns 7,500 acres immediately northwest
of the state property.
Information kiosks are located on US 281 two miles south of Hoisington and on
K-4 two miles east of Hoisington.
Visit
their website to learn more about this part of the Cheyenne Bottoms
ecosystem.

The new Kansas Wetlands
Education Center is located near the south entrance of Cheyenne
Bottoms.
Visit their website for more
information.

Re-publication of site content in any form other than for personal use
requires written permission. If you are a Kansas resident, please
assist with this and other wildlife viewing and conservation programs
by contributing to the Chickadee Checkoff on your state tax form.